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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 32

Topic: Wisdom

Series: The Smurfs

Episode: Symbols Of Wisdom

Lesson PDF link: 32.pdf

Introduction

The obvious theme here is wisdom. In this lesson we discuss what true wisdom is and how to get it. We use King Solomon as an example. He asked for wisdom and got it (along with everything else one could just about desire with it because of this unselfish prayer). We use the Smurfs episode Symbols Of Wisdom for a serious comparison/contrast lesson.

Scriptures Used Include: I Kings 3: 1-15, Proverbs 1; 3-4; 8-9

(This means 5 and 1/2 chapters of Bible--because these particular Proverbs scriptures act like one big piece of literature and cannot be separated)

What is wisdom? We are going to discuss with a comparison/contrast lesson on the subject. This is the definition from the Oxford Dictionary:

1) The state of being wise

2) Experience and knowledge with the power of applying them critically or practically

3) Sagacity; prudence; common sense

4) Wise sayings, thoughts, etc., regarded collectively

5) In his/her wisdom: Thinking it best

What do you think about these definitions - agree or disagree? We are going to show a cartoon opinion of what wisdom is.

Cartoon Clip: The Smurfs: "Symbols Of Wisdom":

The Smurfs: "Symbols Of Wisdom": Direct link for video/webm

Do you agree or disagree with this cartoon? We are going to discuss King Solomon. King Solomon was the wisest king or even person who ever lived (except for Jesus) according to scripture.

The first Bible passage we're looking at is in I Kings 3: 1-15 (parallel scriptures can be found in II Chronicles 1: 1-13 - we don't need this unless asked for this) Let's read it.

1Ki 3:1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.

1Ki 3:2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD.

1Ki 3:3 Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

1Ki 3:4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

1Ki 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, 'Ask for whatever you want me to give you.'

1Ki 3:6 Solomon answered, 'You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

1Ki 3:7 'Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.

1Ki 3:8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.

1Ki 3:9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?'

1Ki 3:10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

1Ki 3:11 So God said to him, 'Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,

1Ki 3:12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

1Ki 3:13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for'both riches and honor 'so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

1Ki 3:14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.'

1Ki 3:15 Then Solomon awoke'and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

How do we attain wisdom? How do we use it? If you were wisdom, what would you say to your hearers; in other words, in wisdom's perspective, what would you say?

The Bible States In Proverbs chapters 1, 3-4, 8-9 (This is 5 whole chapters of scripture)

Pr 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

Pr 1:2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;

Pr 1:3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;

Pr 1:4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young'

Pr 1:5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance'

Pr 1:6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Pr 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Pr 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

Pr 1:9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

Pr 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

Pr 1:11 If they say, 'Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul;

Pr 1:12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

Pr 1:13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;

Pr 1:14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse''

Pr 1:15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

Pr 1:16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.

Pr 1:17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!

Pr 1:18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!

Pr 1:19 Such is the end of all who go after illgotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Pr 1:20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;

Pr 1:21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:

Pr 1:22 'How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Pr 1:23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.

Pr 1:24 But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,

Pr 1:25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke,

Pr 1:26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you'

Pr 1:27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

Pr 1:28 'Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.

Pr 1:29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,

Pr 1:30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,

Pr 1:31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

Pr 1:32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

Pr 1:33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.'

Pr 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,

Pr 3:2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Pr 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Pr 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Pr 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Pr 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

Pr 3:8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Pr 3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

Pr 3:10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Pr 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD'S discipline and do not resent his rebuke,

Pr 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Pr 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,

Pr 3:14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

Pr 3:15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Pr 3:16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Pr 3:17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Pr 3:18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

Pr 3:19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;

Pr 3:20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

Pr 3:21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;

Pr 3:22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

Pr 3:23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;

Pr 3:24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Pr 3:25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

Pr 3:26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

Pr 3:27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

Pr 3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, 'Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow'' when you now have it with you.

Pr 3:29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.

Pr 3:30 Do not accuse a man for no reason' when he has done you no harm.

Pr 3:31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,

Pr 3:32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

Pr 3:33 The LORD'S curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.

Pr 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

Pr 3:35 The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.

Pr 4:1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

Pr 4:2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

Pr 4:3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother,

Pr 4:4 he taught me and said, 'Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.

Pr 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.

Pr 4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

Pr 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Pr 4:8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

Pr 4:9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.'

Pr 4:10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

Pr 4:11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

Pr 4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Pr 4:13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

Pr 4:14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.

Pr 4:15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

Pr 4:16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

Pr 4:17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Pr 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Pr 4:19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Pr 4:20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.

Pr 4:21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;

Pr 4:22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.

Pr 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Pr 4:24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Pr 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

Pr 4:26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

Pr 4:27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

This is wisdom's perspective. The Bible States:

Pr 8:1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

Pr 8:2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

Pr 8:3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:

Pr 8:4 'To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.

Pr 8:5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

Pr 8:6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

Pr 8:7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

Pr 8:8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

Pr 8:9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

Pr 8:10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,

Pr 8:11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Pr 8:12 'I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.

Pr 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Pr 8:14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.

Pr 8:15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;

Pr 8:16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.

Pr 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Pr 8:18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

Pr 8:19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

Pr 8:20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

Pr 8:21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

Pr 8:22 'The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;

Pr 8:23 I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

Pr 8:24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;

Pr 8:25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,

Pr 8:26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.

Pr 8:27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

Pr 8:28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

Pr 8:29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

Pr 8:30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

Pr 8:31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

Pr 8:32 'Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

Pr 8:33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

Pr 8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

Pr 8:35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

Pr 8:36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.'

Pr 9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.

Pr 9:2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

Pr 9:3 She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.

Pr 9:4 'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment.

Pr 9:5 'Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.

Pr 9:6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.

Pr 9:7 'Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

Pr 9:8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Pr 9:9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

Pr 9:10 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Pr 9:11 For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

Pr 9:12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.'

Pr 9:13 The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge.

Pr 9:14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,

Pr 9:15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way.

Pr 9:16 'Let all who are simple come in here!' she says to those who lack judgment.

Pr 9:17 'Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!'

Pr 9:18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.

When you see these scriptures and the cartoon what do you see in comparison or contrast? Is the cartoon right or wrong in the end?

Brainy and Gargamel both thought the same thing, to be wise is to look the part - meaning the beards that they respectively wear. In the end, we see that the chili bean looks like it's being prayed to. Wisdom doesn't come from a chili bean; it comes from The Lord. Mute idols in reality don't have any power, although this ending was probably done for humor and is very funny.

What have we learned comparing the cartoon to the Bible today? To recap, how do we acquire wisdom? How will we show more wisdom in our lives this week and beyond? We need to remember to pray to God for wisdom to help us in our lives and life's responsibilities, even in very small matters that don't look like much because small problems or circumstances can become too big for us. God has to be in control in everything to work the best.